Mbabu Settling In

January signing Kevin Mbabu is still waiting to make his Newcastle debut at any level, but has revealed that he has settled in well on Tyneside following his move from Servette.

Frustratingly for the 17-year-old Swiss defender, he has yet to receive clearance to play for the Magpies but he has already trained with the first-team on a handful of occasions.

And the new boy - who became the sixth player to join the Magpies during the last transfer window - can't wait to begin playing for the under-18 and under-21 sides.

"I'm settling in really well in my first few weeks here," he told the Club's official matchday programme. "It is thanks mostly to the players, who have given me a fantastic welcome.

"They have all been very kind. Of course, the French-speaking players have been great but I have also been spending a lot of time with the likes of James Tavernier, Sammy Ameobi and Haris Vuckic. When I first arrived it was them who actually approached and talked to me first.

"I train mostly with the Reserves but from time to time - maybe once or twice a week - I am with the first-team and that is when there is a massive step up in terms of the rhythm.

"My long-term aim is to play as a first-team player. I am only 17 so there is a long way to go but in the future I hope to integrate into the first-team and to succeed with them."

Switzerland under-19 international Mbabu also explained the secret behind his distinctive dreadlocks.

"Since I was three years old, I have had my current hairstyle," he said. "However, it took a lot of time to get like it is now.

"I didn't like people touching my hair at all so my mum decided it would be useful for me to get my hair like this so no-one would touch it.

"The most tiring part of it is looking after it. But now, because I've had it done, everybody wants to touch my hair! It's quite ironic."